US Navy Takes Delivery Of Full Mission Simulators

The US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, has installed a Kongsberg Maritime 'Version 2' Full Mission Shiphandling Simulator based on Polaris ship simulation software. In addition, two Polaris Bridge Simulators were delivered to US Naval bases in Yokosuka and Sasebo, Japan.
Familiarisation training can be conducted in the eLearning lab, part task exercises can be carried out on the Polaris desktop systems, and the Polaris Full Mission Simulator can be used for bridge team training.
With the installation of the Full Mission Simulator and ship modelling and database production support systems, the Naval Academy staff is able to build hydrodynamic ship models and exercise areas that can be integrated into custom training strategies and scenarios. This ability is especially relevant for Naval Academies as training scenarios differ greatly from the merchant marine simulation sector.
Two more Version 2 Polaris Bridge Simulators were installed in March 2004 at US Naval bases in Yokosuka and Sasebo, Japan, as part of the Navigation, Seamanship, and Shiphandling Training (NSST) program. These simulators provide the US Navy for the first time with the ability to conduct 'local' seamanship and navigation training in support of the 20 permanently forward-deployed WESTPAC ships in the area.
The training includes the Special Evolutions Training (SET) course that allows ships to customize their program, dependent upon their training and operational requirements, from a selection of 20 practical and instructional half-day modules. The content of these modules varies from traditional simulator topics such as pier-work and collision avoidance training, to current operational issues such as Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) and evasion of hostile small craft.
A typical MIO mission may involve locating a suspect terrorist vessel believed to be transiting eastbound in the busy waters of the Singapore Strait, and close it to conduct boarding operations and a cargo inspection. The combination of an 'evasive target' in a precise geographic database, realistic weather conditions complicated by periodic rain squalls, representative traffic situation, lack of organic air assets, and assistance from a maritime patrol aircraft with limited on task time presents a challenging, dynamic and interactive scenario.